Ichthyornis dispar

At 2 feet long, Ichthyornis was about the same size (and shape) as a modern Gull. In fact, this bird is often referred to as the "gull of the cretaceous" by paleontologists. The resemblence, however, is only superficial. Icthyornis belongs to an extinct order of toothed birds that flourished in the late cretaceous, and died out with the dinosaurs. [Skeletal Reference; O.C. Marsh] #animal #bird #birdman #cretaceous #ichthyornis #niobrara #ocean #prehistoric #sea #wing